Sabres' Tyler Myers suspended 3 games

01/06/2014 05:43 EST
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Updated
03/08/2014 05:59 EST

CBC

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Buffalo Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers's prior discipline history may have caught up to him.

Myers was suspended three games Monday for an illegal hit to head of New Jersey Devils forward Dainius Zubrus Saturday night, the National Hockey League announced. The blue-liner has been suspended once before for boarding in his career.

The incident in question occurred during the third period of Buffalo's 2-1 win. At 7:02 of the third period, Myers levelled Zubrus while the forward was engaging in a give-and-go with teammate Jaromir Jagr, and was given a two-minute penalty for a hit to the head.

"...Until just before impact, Myers is in position to make a legal, full-body check on Zubrus, who is eligible to be checked," said NHL discipline head Brendan Shanahan in a video explanation. "However, rather than remaining in an athletic position and delivering a check into Zubrus's chest or shoulder, Myers unnecessarily extends upward and drives his right shoulder into Zubrus's jaw when head contact such as this was completely avoidable."

Zubrus, 35, would remain in the game. In 43 games this year, the six-foot-five, 225-pound native of Lithuania has eight goals and 11 assists.

Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers 15th overall in 1996, the winger has 216 goals and 567 points in 1,130 games with the Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals and Devils.

Myers has struggled to regain his Calder Trophy form of 2009-10, when he amassed 11 goals and 37 assists in 82 contests. The 23-year-old from Houston has 36 goals and 92 assists in 298 career games, all with the Sabres.

The defenceman will forfeit $84,615.39 US in salary, all of which will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.